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Chrysler will shortly announce that it is going ahead with the launch of its Dodge Hornet supermini, which it will develop in collaboration with Chinese company Chery.

The car could be revealed in close-to-production guise at this autumn’s Frankfurt motor show. The Hornet was first shown as a concept at the Geneva motor show in 2006, where it was widely admired for its tough-looking style.

Chrysler plans to enter the crowded European supermini segment with the one range, resisting the temptation to launch a Chrysler-branded version alongside, as it has done with the Mondeo-class Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring.

The Hornet’s arrival is part of a three billion dollar product renewal programme for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep that will roll out over the next three years. This is, in fact, the very plan that Chrysler had in place before it separated from Daimler – according to its international sales and marketing director Michael Manley, this plan is now ‘confirmed’ following Cerberus’s acquisition of the company.

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The same three reasons every other automotive company, including GM, are colaborating: cheap labor, an already built factory, and did I already say cheap labor? With small cars like this, in order for Chrysler to make profit, it has to be built in a country where labor costs are very low. China still fits that bill. On top of that, Chrysler has very few, if any production facilities in Asia. Now that Daimler is no longer footing the bill or sharing any of their facilities, the fastest way to get this vehicle up and running is to do a joint venture with a Chinese company such as Chery. GM did it when it first introduced Buick back in the 90s with Shanghi automotive.

As long as Chrysler leads the way with the engineering, and Chery is really only there for cheap assembly purposes, I see no issue with this car. Looks plenty fun, more like it's aimed at the Mini instead of the Yaris, Fit or Aveo.

Good luck Dodge. I agree with the decision. You HAVE to have product at the low price point, and in today's world, that means manufacturing where you can meet that price. If Dodge did not do it, somebody else would. The new world order is made up of manufacturers working all over the world to meet market demads. Just the way it is now. Embrace it or die.

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I take it Chrysler hopes this will compete with the Mini as in being a sporty, fun to drive little car? Let's see how the finished product turns out, but I can already say I like the Mini's styling better.

Nintendo builds all its game systems in China, and has for many years now. They are generally known for having the most durable products in the video game industry. (For instance, I dare you to find a way to break a Game Boy short of snapping it in half.)

Microsoft, on the other hand, builds all its Xbox hardware in Mexico. At least until very recently, Xbox 360s were some of the most problem-packed units on the market.